Ballyhale, Crokes, Shelmaliers and K/K advance to Leinster club SHC last four

Shamrock Ballyhales' Darragh Corcoran celebrates scoring a goal against The Harps ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

Shelmaliers (Wexford) produced a remarkable late fightback to edge past Lough Lene Gaels (Westmeath) by 2-21 to 4-14 in a thrilling Leinster club senior hurling championship quarter-final in Mullingar.

Derek McNicholas netted twice in the first half as Lough Lene Gaels built a 3-5 to 0-9 interval advantage, with Marcus Kennedy also raising the green flag.

The Wexford champions responded through Cian Doyle's goal before Paul Hearne's dismissal, but Ryan Williams' major and further scores from McNicholas helped the hosts move five points clear.

However, Ross Banville's late goal brought Shelmaliers back into contention and, after Aaron Kennedy briefly edged Lough Lene Gaels ahead, Banville levelled before Joshua Roche landed the winning point with the second-last puck of the game.

In Portlaoise, Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny) proved too strong for The Harps (Laois), booking their place in the Leinster club SHC semi-finals with a 3-19 to 1-16 victory.

TJ Reid top-scored with 1-8, including a penalty, while Brian Cody contributed 1-3 and Darragh Corcoran also found the net as the Kilkenny champions led 2-6 to 0-7 at half-time.

Mark Downey's goal sparked a second-half revival from The Harps, with Ciaran Comerford adding six points, but Ballyhale responded strongly to close out the contest.

Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) advanced to the last four thanks to a hard-fought 0-22 to 1-16 win over Mount Leinster Rangers (Carlow) at Netwatch Cullen Park.

Chris Nolan struck the only goal from a penalty in the 28th minute and finished as MLR's top scorer with 1-9, keeping the Carlow champions in contention with a series of accurate frees.

Crokes led 0-12 to 1-8 at half-time, with Ronan Hayes particularly influential from placed balls, while Brian Hayes, Brendan McKenna and Alex Considine also contributed for the Stillorgan side.

The Dublin champions took control with six unanswered points after the restart and, despite late efforts from Fiachra Fitzpatrick and Ruairi Murphy, survived a late Mount Leinster Rangers goal opportunity to progress.

Meanwhile, Kilcormac-Killoughey (Offaly) needed extra time to edge out Naas (Kildare) by 1-32 to 3-25 in a cracking encounter in Newbridge, where goalkeeper Conor Slevin's monster free in the 83rd minute proved the difference between the teams.

The results mean that 12-time champions Ballyhale will face Kilmacud in the semi-finals, with Shelmaliers to play Kilcormac-Killoughey in the other last four clash in the O'Neill Cup race on the weekend of November 21/22.